Master Scheduler / Planner

Position Overview

The Master Scheduler/Planner plays a critical role in coordinating with customers to manage forecasts, production schedules, and customer orders effectively. This position is embedded within Vanguard EMS, a company that prides itself on advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities, focused on exceptional service to customers, suppliers, and local communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage directly with customers to receive, interpret, and incorporate forecasts.
• Enter forecasts into the computer system, assessing the effects of changes on operations.
• Prepare data inputs to support Sales Forecasting and Production Planning activities.
• Develop and maintain the master production schedule along with related planning data such as lot sizes, lead times, and capacity planning.
• Collaborate with Customer Product Specialists on quotes, engineering change orders, and new product introductions.
• Manage changes to sales orders in partnership with customers.
• Coordinate priorities and resolve issues among stockroom, production, and shipping departments to fulfill customer requirements.
• Create, allocate, and release manufacturing orders, addressing potential shortages through cooperation with program teams, purchasing, and production units.
• Lead weekly scheduling meetings with production teams, providing customer feedback and monitoring daily production commitments.
• Analyze inventory for potential excess, obsolescence, and material availability concerns.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to devise, communicate, and interpret plans and schedules effectively.
• Good judgment to evaluate feasibility and the impact of planning decisions.
• Resilience and positive demeanor to work under pressure within a dynamic environment.
• Proficiency in managing and analyzing numerical data.
• Strong verbal communication skills to present plans, analyses, and recommendations.
• Effective negotiating capabilities.
• Capability to synthesize large volumes of numeric and verbal information.
• Team collaboration skills across functions such as production, purchasing, customer service, and materials handling.

Education and Experience

• Minimum High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Prior experience in Master Scheduling within an electronics manufacturing setting.
• Strong familiarity with ERP systems on both operational and strategic levels.
• Competency in data manipulation and analysis using Excel and other software tools.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office suite: Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Word.

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS certification is advantageous.
• A 2-year or 4-year degree in Business or a related field.
• Experience in contract manufacturing environments is desirable.

Work Environment and Conditions

This role operates in a manufacturing environment where physical demands and conditions are representative of the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations will be made to support individuals with disabilities. The company values equal employment opportunity without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. The listed responsibilities do not encompass all duties and may be modified by management as needed.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Profit-sharing incentives.